Utah United Way sends volunteers to Louisiana

PROVO — The United Way of Utah County has sent volunteers to Monroe, La., to assist with evacuees from Hurricane Katrina.

Volunteer Center Director Mary Alice Cannon was expected to arrive in Louisiana today. She will help at the 211 call center, which evacuees can use to seek resources. Volunteers and people who want to make donations also use 211, said Katie Hoshino, communications manager for the United Way of Utah County. Cannon joins Brittney Smith and Rebekah Olsen, who are in the town about 300 miles north of New Orleans, working at the 211 call center. They also are searching databases for people missing after the hurricane.

Employees Adrienne Gabriel and Kristen Corbett returned to Utah after time in Louisiana. Gabriel, who works as the Hispanic outreach coordinator, used her Spanish in the South. Corbett put together a volunteer training manual and presentation, Hoshino said.